Mike Portnoy Taylor Swift 's song "Shake It Off" for the first time after hearing it for the first time. The drummer participated in the First Time Drumeo channel .
The progressive metal musician was challenged to create his own version of a song by a pop star he had never heard before.
A version of the song played without the drum part for Mike, who confirmed he had never heard it before. During the listening session, the veteran drummer began improvising. At the end, Portnoy joked that it “sounded like something from Disneyland in Japan or something like that”.
Then he listened to the song again and said he didn't know how to play it since it was practically the same key. "It's like Bob Dylan . It's all verses, it doesn't change key. I don't even know what to write. I think I'll just enjoy it," joked the drummer.
Mike Portnoy now knows Taylor Swift.
Finally, the drummer finished playing the song in his own style, with all the progressive baggage. At that moment, Portnoy was informed that what he had played was a song with over 3 billion views by Taylor Swift. He then replied, “Oh my God! It’s Taylor Swift? She’s the greatest artist on Earth. I had no idea.”
The musician later apologized: “Taylor, I’m so sorry. I’d still play with you in a heartbeat, but I wouldn’t do that.” Later, he joked with the Drumeo team: “See, now I can’t say I’ve never heard a Taylor Swift song. You guys just ruined that for me.”
Next month, Mike, along with Dream Theater, will release the new album Parasomnia . After almost a decade away from the band, the drummer and founding member returned at the end of 2023, and this will be the first album recorded since his return.
READ ALSO : Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy mourns the death of his sister from cancer.
